By The Financial District
Oct 9, 20231 min
Amazon has officially entered the race to build massive constellations of satellites that can provide global internet connectivity.
The first two prototype satellites for Amazon's network, known as Project Kuiper, were launched aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 2:06 p.m. ET on Friday. I Photo: Amazon
This move puts the tech company in direct competition with SpaceX and its Starlink system, as reported by Jackie Wattles on CNN.
The first two prototype satellites for Amazon's network, known as Project Kuiper, were launched aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 2:06 p.m. ET on Friday.
Rajeev Badyal, Project Kuiper's vice president of technology, stated, "We've conducted extensive testing in our lab and have a high degree of confidence in our satellite design, but there's no substitute for on-orbit testing. This is Amazon's first time launching satellites into space, and we're going to learn an incredible amount regardless of how the mission unfolds."
The livestream of the launch by United Launch Alliance was cut off after the first stage of its rocket, the part that provides the initial boost at liftoff, completed its engine firing.
The company confirmed "mission success" and stated in a news release that it "precisely" delivered the satellites.
If successful, this mission could pave the way for Amazon to deploy hundreds more satellites into orbit, eventually creating a network of over 3,200 satellites working together to provide internet connectivity to the ground.